Tw: mental illness, etc
Note: this is from a book titled "no one" that i unpublished. Thanks

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

Dri-

"KEITH!"

~

That's all he remembers.

Now, you'd probably assume that the dripping is his blood, and someone found him in the bathroom on the floor bleeding out. Because that's always how the story goes. That's almost how I wrote it.

However, this time it's different. Keith didn't cut his veins up by the tub this time, he hardly had the energy to make such an effort just to fail again. Why try the same thing twice, right?

Earlier That Day

Keith hitched his bag up onto his shoulder and trudged on the muddy pavement to his run-down high school's open doors. Usually they don't let the students in, but since it's fever season and cold as hell, they decided they didn't want any other lawsuits. Keith pushed through the few students who were already there inside, and made his way to an empty corner. He sat down on the floor, his bag inbetween his legs, and pulled out his phone.

Keith: hey

Shiro: hey, everything alr?

Keith: Just wanted to chat, I still half like another hour before my classes begin

Shiro: oh okay

Lance: i still have like two hours! Lol

Keith: Yeah because you go to a better school than me dumby

Lance: sucks to be you :P

Keith: no crap

Shiro: guys, chill
Shiro: so whatcha doing?

Lance: TRYING to sleep!!! >:(

Keith: consider it karma for all the aggravation you cause me

Shiro: I'm watching TV

Lance: is it Disney Channel? It's Disney Channel isn't it?

Shiro: I... uh...

"Keith, I'm glad you're here early! May I speak with you in my office, please?"

Keith looks up to see the vice principal of his school, Ms. Pruvoor, looking down at him. Keith sighs, what now? He gets up, grabs his stuff and follows her to her office. He sits across from her at her desk, just waiting for "You're suspended for life!" to come out of her mouth.

"Yes, Ms. Pruvoor?" he asks as politely as he can manage, not making eye contact.

"It's come to my attention that you've been skipping your classes." she states, looking down at her notebook as if she's marked every day I have.

I shrug, "A few. If I'm not respected, I don't stay."

"Don't you find that a bit disrespectful, Mr. Kogane?"

"If I'm not in their class it's none of their business what I"m-"

"Mr. Kogane, I'll remind you," Keith looked at her with an attitude, trying not to yell at her for interrupting him, "that our teachers work hard day and night to provide our students with an education. If you don't take the resources they provide-"

"The resources they provide can be found in a dusty library full of '80s paperwork."

"Then I suggest you make a high school degree there, Mr. Kogane." The principle sighs, glancing at her papers again.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Keith asks, anger slipping through her teeth like ooze.

"You're expelled, Keith. You'll have to attend a different school from now on, and your spot will be taken by someone who wants to be here."

"And how do you know I don't want to be here? People have lives beyond your textbooks, you know." Keith looks away, shaking his head.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Kogane. Please exit campus immediately."

Keith didn't have to be asked twice. He snatched his stuff and stormed out of her office, out the high school doors and onto the street.

By now, it's pouring down rain. Keith checked his phone, 13 messages from the groupchat. So much for trying to sleep, he rolled his eyes. As he walks aimlessly down the street, getting wetter by the step, he grumbles to himself.

"Ugh, this is so unfair!" He yells out, kicking the ground.

Schools are so cold, and that's coming from him. The reason why he skips classes is because of his depression. His family can't afford to get him to to a doctor that can diagnose him so he's without medicine. He tries his best to attend, but some classes, some people, just make everything worse.

And this is the world's response. To punish, to hurt, Keith.

Keith can feel tears brimming his eyes. He wants to say they're hot tears, out of anger, but they're not. No one makes Keith feel this way, but truth be said, everyone does. Himself the most.

Keith's had it. He has no school to go to, and he can't go home and face his family, and his friends won't understand, and he just hates this place he's trapped in and he can't deal with this sh*t any longer!

He has absolutely had enough. Enough fighting this useless, pathetic battle day by day.

Drip, the rain fell.

Drip, it's raining harder.

Drip, it'll probably be stormy tonight.

Dri- the bus honked as the kids went crazy in the backseats.

"KEITH!" That's all he really remembers.